A. If you are in a car accident or some other event requiring unexpected medical care, the physicians and emergency personnel must find a way to contact someone regarding your medical emergency. Time is important. Some medical procedures require authorization from a spouse or a health care agent before treatment can begin. A shorthand process has been developed to facilitate this communication process, referred to as ICE. ICE stands for In Case of Emergency.

Q. How Does ICE Work?

A. ICE reflects the list of persons who you want contacted in case of an emergency. This list of persons and their telephone numbers (and other information) is stored on your cell phone. The steps are as follows:

Decide whom you want contacted in case of emergency.

Enter ICE as the contact name in your cell phone contact list.

Add the phone number of the person you want called in case of emergency.

If you want to name more than one person, make an ICE1 and ICE2 entry in your contact list.

FACT: If you are injured in an emergency, paramedics and other emergency responders are trained to examine your cell phone and look under “ICE” to see who ought to be contacted to give your whereabouts and condition.

If you own an Apple Iphone, there are several ICE applications available. These applications allow you to enter emergency contact information and other types of health information.